An adventurer since boyhood, his greatest thrill had always been the opportunity to save lives. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. His parents, however, convinced him to finish his studies; he graduated in the class of 1962. He was credited with saving nine lives. The roadway honors four local USAF Pararescuemen who died in battle. Under the guidance of the brave PJ, the infantrymen were able to quickly send two more stokes patients to safety. He was born on May 18, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems - Eau Claire, the son of Ronald Pitsenbarger, Jr. and Ann (Moyer) Nelson. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The Huskie was the first chopper to land and O'Berne moved among the dead to find and load three wounded infantrymen. he attended the fire-fighters course for the HH-43 helicopter. Novella Pitsenbarger passed away 2017-01-02 in This is the full obituary story where you can express condolences and share memories. As the infantrymen fought to reclaim enough jungle landscape for the medevacs to land, the enemy attacked with mortars and machinegun fire. She was a homemaker. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In 2005, the State of Ohio designated State Route 48 as the "U.S.A.F. A marker honoring the men is along State Route 48 just north of Covington. Read + Subscribe to This Local Life Magazine. Airman 1st Class Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native and graduate of Piqua schools, was a pararescue and medical specialist who died April 11, 1966, in Vietnam. At 3 o'clock on the afternoon of April 11th, the call for help arrived at the headquarters of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa. According to Pitsenbargers Medal of Honor biography, Pitsenbarger reacted instantly with confidence and courage, charging toward the bear and yelling as if enraged. - Strollers An MRI also revealed a hematoma, or bad bruising, above his kidney that doctors found. He turned to his machine gunner and said, "That guy coming out of the helicopter from above, in an Air Force uniform, must be out of his mind to leave his not-so-safe helicopter for the inferno on the ground." Hundreds of men owed their lives to a young medic called Pitsand not only for his lifesaving first aid in the airborne trip from the jungle to a field hospital. [13], Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame Award for 2012.[14]. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. His decisions were deliberate, calculated, and carried out with the highest degree of professionalism. When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. Pitsenbarger was killed by Viet Cong snipers later that night. Born in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, she was the widow of the late James Pitsenbarger and daughter of the late William Richter Corron and Matilda May Nixon Corron. Some of the kids were calling for God." On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan (right) and about 1,800 guests attended the ceremony. The captain consented and slowly the choppers crew chief Airman First Class Gerald Hammond lowered his friend on the jungle penetrator. No longer could he hear the sounds of William Pitsenbarger's M-16. Over the months that followed William Pitsenbarger did his best to downplay the dangers of his job in his letters home. He was born December 22, 1927 in Moyers,WV a son of the late Benjamin "Cam" Cameron and Dorothy Louella (Simmons) Pitsenbarger. Year should not be greater than current year. When his basic training was complete, he volunteered for Air Force Pararescue duty. He was preceded in death by his wife Mable, October 8, 2005. When he found the bodies of American boys that could not be saved, he gathered weapons and ammunition to distribute among those who could still fight. Totally exposed at the end of the cable, enemy rounds sang past the gallant PJ as he voluntarily rode the penetrator into a nightmare beyond human comprehension. (During the Korean War, four Air Force pilots were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor but all received the Army design for the award.). Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. He came there to save lives and that was what he was doing., -Fred Navarro, a man whose life William Pitsenbarger saved -, (Photocourtesy of the Piqua Public Library History Department). Another Viet Cong bullet hit the intrepid soldier in the leg. He even gave away his own pistol, and did have a firearm to return enemy fire. Two Air Force Huskies were quickly airborne and moving east to find and extract the wounded soldiers of Charlie Company. In the 1990s, a campaign was initiated by numerous private citizens as well as federal officials, to revisit the story of the boy from Piqua, Ohio. The worst was yet to come for Charlie Company. After his training was completed, he returned to Piqua on leave and then to his first duty assignment at Hamilton Air Force Base in California. The father shed tears. Sergeant Robinson ripped the burning uniform from his body and continued forward. The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. - Purses He also became qualified as a U.S. Navy Scuba Diver. His name can be found on Panel 06E Line 102 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. As the fighting continued to escalate, more wounded fell. Some honors can be seen by the public. The surrounded Americans fought for hours and sustained several casualties. NAME: Jonathan B. Pittsenborger GENDER: Male MARRIAGE DATE: 21 Nov 1839 MARRIAGE PLACE: Darke, Ohio, USA SPOUSE: Mary Pittsenberger FILM NUMBER: 001030772 From Ancestry.com J. Pitsenbarger in the 1880 United States Federal Census Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. O'Berne replied that he was. The city of Piqua, Ohio, renamed a recreational park (which includes the municipal swimming pool) the "Pitsenbarger Sports Complex." In one lifeless hand Pits still held his M-16 rifle. He continued to work as a stock boy at the local Kroger supermarket, all the while thirsting for more adventure. The Air Force Association awards a $750 Pitsenbarger scholarship to the top USAF enlisted personnel graduating from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree and submits a competitive award nomination package. Subsequent to the award, Pitsenbarger will also be posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. The government of South Vietnam awarded him Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm. These men were now cut off from Able and Bravo companies and were surrounded by 400 or more enemy soldiers. After Air Force basic training, the young airman had continued to push the envelope and expand his thirst for adventure. He was killed. Air Force buildings were named for him, and the Air Force Sergeants Association introduced an annual award for valor in honor of the heroic actions reflected in his award citation. one moves westward towards Saigon. This includes Pitsenbarger; Sgt. Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, better known as "The Big Red One", began to move into the jungle between Saigon and Vung Tau in search of the enemy. On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was a rescue and survival specialist aboard a helicopter engaged in the evacuating of American casualties in a dense jungle. Bill McDaniel (Greenville), Sgt. All Web: Obituary Daily Times Index, 1995-2016 results for Pitsenbarger. A system error has occurred. He was frozen with fear, unable to move. There were mortars coming in, heavy machinegun fire. As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day were recovered, Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get one more wounded soldier to safety. As the battle raged on, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to care for the wounded, pull them out of the line of fire, and returned fire whenever he could, during which time he was wounded three times.. Of the 291 men, fewer than 20 men survived the night of April 11-12, 1966. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan (right) and about 1,800 guests attended . NEW WESTON Clarence William Pitsenbarger, 93, of New Weston, Ohio, passed away on Saturday August 21, 2021, at 12:10 a.m., at Versailles Rehab and Healthcare, Versailles, Ohio. Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons. San Francisco television stations covered the rescue on the evening news.. He. Then, over the cries of the wounded, he heard the sound of a returning rescue helicopter. His medical training had served him well, so well in fact, that he had applied to Arizona State University to study to become a medical technician or male nurse upon completion of his Air Force tour of duty a couple of months hence. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. He was leaving that very night. * Firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons, are specifically prohibited in Federal facilities in accordance with 18 USC 930 (c) Next to him, the wounded Sergeant Navarro was struggling to stay alive and to resist. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. During the brightest day, soldiers moving acrossthe jungle floor can almost feel that they are moving about at night. Failed to report flower. At least nine rounds hit the aircraft, one of them tearing through the wiring and causing the throttle control to jam at full throttle. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Clarence William Pitsenbarger, 93 of New Weston, Ohio, passed away on Saturday August 21, 2021 at 12:10 AM at Versailles Rehab and Healthcare, Versailles, Ohio. In this first part of the fight that lasted from 45 minutes to an hour, we took quite a few casualties. When his body was recovered the next day, one hand still held a rifle and the other clutched a medical kit. Pitsenbarger was given the Air Force Cross for his actions on June 30, 1966. William Hart Pitsenbarger as a boy was determined to become an elite warrior. Feb 21, 2023 0 HOOVER Janet Imogene (Pitsenbarger) Hoover, 91, of Dayton, passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at Blue Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing in Harrisonburg. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. As darkness began to fall, he disappeared for about 10 minutes, returning to the area receiving the heaviest enemy fire with 20 or more magazines of ammunition he had scrounged from among the dead. Weapons, https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations. On April 11, 1966, three rifle companies from 1st Infantry Division - also known as the " Big Red One " - were sent to fight the Viet Cong . At six feet, three inches tall he was an inspiring sight for the beleaguered men of his platoon. Time and again he has faced enemy fire, stared death in the face and calmly set himself to the tasks of a Pararescue medic. At noon sniper fire began. We have set your language to This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. In addition to the Airman's Medal and the Vietnamese awards, their son had received the Purple Heart and six Air Medals with four more pending. Arriving with the Army's CH47 helicopters on Tuesday morning was the only operable Huskie from Detachment 6. Haley, of Ukiah, Calif., was dirty and unkept after his unit had been in the jungles 30 miles east of Saigon for two weeks searching for the Viet Cong. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He loved to help and bless anybody he could. This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you knew Lenie, you knew a man who loved the Lord and his family. Mildred was of the Baptist faith. Dead and wounded American boys littered the undergrowth in what was quickly becoming a massacre. He had enlisted in the Air Force and would soon be boarding a train for San Antonio to begin his training. Those who knew Pitsenbarger will never forget his courage and willingness to go the last mile to save a soldier. Jim Locker of Sidney, Ohio; Master Sgt. By 3:30 the two Air Force choppers were hovering over the tops of the jungle canopy while death and devastation raged below. Shirley was born December 29, 1932, in Miami County to the late Milton & Edna (Niesley) Buckingham. The frightened bear performed an about-face and fled. This action earned him the Airman's Medal and the Republic of Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm.[4]. It was the Air Force Cross, our Nation's second-highest award for military valor by a member of the United States Air Force. For that selfless act of heroism, Pits was awarded the highly regarded Airman's Medal by the United States Air Force. How soon? This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. As Salem fought to save his Huskie, his departure left the valiant PJ stranded on the ground with Sergeant Navarro, Lieutenant Libs, and the few survivors of Charlie Company. After several pick-ups, one of the two rescue helicopters involved in the evacuation was struck by heavy enemy ground fire and was forced to leave the scene for an emergency landing. [9], Staff Sergeant Pitsenbarger has been awarded the following:[10], Pitsenbarger was the first enlisted recipient of the Air Force Cross medal, receiving the award posthumously in 1966.[5]. This account has been disabled. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Here the jungle grows in layers, oftentriple-canopy(3-layers) of heavy vegetation. Even as a lad he had flirted with danger, taking his childhood games like "follow the leader" to the ledges of the highest buildings or the limbs of the tallest trees. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. He trained with members of the Army at Fort Benning, Georgia to earn his jump wings. In a ceremony held at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 8, 2000, Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten "Whit" Peters presented the Medal of Honor to the parents, William F. and Alice Pitsenbarger, of Airman 1st Class William F. Pitsenbarger. Quickly the total darkness of the jungle night was falling across the area as the two men lay in their position returning fire on the enemy. Failed to delete memorial. - Backpacks Nearby Lieutenant Johnny Libs was doing his best to bring some semblance of order to what remained of his platoon. Then had come the looming threats of conflict in Vietnam. The Air Force Huskies could hover over the last layers of the jungle foliage and winch a wire-mesh Stokes Litterto those on the ground. 0 cemeteries found in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA. DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at
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Beneath was the body of his friend, Pararescue medic William Pitsenbargershot four times. But the choice to "go in" was always a voluntary call, made the PJs themselves. Doctors determined that Dick Rynearson had suffered a broken upper left rib and a shattered sternum. Lenie A Pitsenbarger Lenie A. Pitsenbarger, 48, of Mentor, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at Lake West Medical Center in Willoughby. As the enemy pulled back from the surrounded remainder of Charlie Company, in the total darkness of the jungle, civilian women and children under Viet Cong control slipped through the underbrush to recover the VC dead and wounded. "I'm sorry but one of your buddies was killed last night," he informed the PJ, then pointed towards a poncho covered bundle in the distance. He was a Pararescue Crew Member of Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. I saw another lieutenant running from tree to tree looking for Viet Cong positions. He served as a member of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa, near Saigon. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. One cannot judge the young men who reacted to the horrible events of April 11th with fear and panic. On April 11, 1966, the Joint Rescue Center dispatched two Huskies from Detachment 6 to extract a half-dozen or more Army casualties pinned down in a battle near Cam My, 35 miles (56km) east of Saigon. He successfully completed the rescue and survival medical course. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, W.Va., and formerly Moyers, W.Va., passed away Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, at Pendleton Manor. The drill team of the AFJROTC unit at Martinsburg High School, Martinsburg WV is known as the Pitsenbarger Rifles. He was the first airman to receive the honor and continues to be remembered for risking his life to save the lives of others. The firefight was at Cam My, in the Republic of Vietnam, about 35 miles east of Saigon. Born February 19, 1927 at Thayer, WV she was the daughter of the late William Haynes and Ocie Dean Haynes As the last surviving sibling, she was preceded in death by three brothers Alfred . Two helicopters with pararescue personnel were sent to rescue the trapped soldiers, but the helicopter pilots could not land in the aircraft in the jungle. Please reset your password. When the others began running low on ammunition, he gathered ammunition from the dead and distributed it to those still alive. But the Huskies had a unique advantage. With complete disregard for personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to ride a hoist more than one hundred feet through the jungle, to the ground. In time, Pits became an Air Force legend not so much for what his citation said about his actions that day in April 1966, but for the details, it did not include! Bailey Zechar Funeral Home. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Joseph E. Pitsenbarger of Troy, Ohio, who passed away at the age of 66, on January 6, 2022. Young William had come home after his extensive training a grown man, confident that he could accomplish any task and fulfill any demands his job might require. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations,
He was also a very large target. Ambulatory casualties could be hoisted to the waiting choppers on "jungle penetrators". Alert and always ready to go on any mission. Detachment 6 flew three HH-43F Huskie helicopters, which recovered downed airmen and injured ground troops. This was granted. One round fell short, detonating in the top of the jungle canopy and raining deadly shrapnel on Sergeant Robinson's platoon. "It brought back a lot of memories," he said . The company commander, Capt. The first explosion came from American artillery fired in support ofOperation Abilene. During his short life, Thiago was surrounded by the love of his family. Connect to 337 Pitsenbarger profiles on Geni, Source: https://familysearch.org/service/tree/tree-data/person/LRL6-P2N/all?locale=en, Apr 30 1918 - Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, United States, John W Pittsenbarger, Freda Pittsenbarger, John W Pittsenbarger, Freda B Pittsenbarger, Frances W Pittsenbarger, Loren E Pittsenbarger, Between 1940 and 1942 - 504 Purcell Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 1940 - 303 South Roosevelt Avenue, Piqua, Washington T, Miami, Ohio, USA, John W Pitsenbarger, Freda B Pitsenbarger, Apr 30 1918 - Shelby, Ohio, United States, Feb 8 2002 - Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, United States, John Walter Pitsenbarger, Freda Blanche Pitsenbarger (born Westfall), William Hart Pitsenbarger Congressional Medal of Honor, Frances Winifred Mcmaster (born Pitsenbarger), Loren Elwood Pitsenbarger, Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17952884/_, Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17952807/loren-elwood-pitsenbarger, Shelby County, Ohio, USA, Shelby, Ohio, United States, Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana, USA, Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, United States, Miami Memorial Park Cemetery, Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA, Covington, Miami, Ohio, United States, U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. In the midst of sudden death and unrestrained terror, Sergeant Robinson began moving among the men to organize defensive fire and inspire confidence. At some point during the rescue, they encountered a bear. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Olly Richards NME. How bad was it on the ground? Airman Pitsenbarger repeatedly exposed himself to intensive automatic fire while gathering rifles and ammunition from fallen comrades which he passed among the defenders. At Stead AFB, Nevada, he completed the combat survival course, at Elgin AFB in Florida he attended the Tropical Survival School, and at Albrook AFB, C.Z. The wire stretchers, however, kept getting caught in the jungle trees. Pits, as the Airman from Piqua, Ohio came to be called, was a happy and likable young man. For the next hour and a half, Pitsenbarger tended to the wounded soldiers, hacking splints out of snarled vines and building improvised stretchers out of saplings. William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at Pendleton Manor. This is a carousel with slides. In the other, he still clutched his medical kit. According to members of his squadron, Bill enjoyed participating in flights to treat patients at a leper colony in Viet Cong controlled territory. Once he was lowered from a helicopter to rescue a South Vietnamese soldier in a burning mine field. They found the hunters and began to cut a trail down the mountain. OBITUARY Floyd "Bear" Pitsenbarger October 5, 1931 - January 2, 2017. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. On the ground, Pits signaled for the penetrator. Statue dedication ceremony for A1C William H. Pitsenbarger statue at the Pitsenbarger Sports Complex in Piqua, Ohio on November 14, 2015. Four years after William Pitsenbarger's death, Airman First Class John Lee Levitow became the first and only enlisted airman to receive our Nation's highest military award. When Mr. and Mrs. Pitsenbarger accepted that award on behalf of their heroic son on September 22, 1966, William Pits Pitsenbarger became the first enlisted airman in history to receive the Air Force's second-highest award for military heroism, posthumously. ), Pitsenbarger decided that he could speed things up if he could get to the ground. Two men were killed, twelve wounded, and the tall sergeant from Cicero, Illinois set his men to the task of clearing a landing zone for medevac choppers to extract the casualties. She was born on June 14, 1932, in Franklin, WV, the daughter of the late Arthur J. and Ida Mae (Propst) Lambert. He never complained and had a great sense of humor and tendency to clown around when things were quiet. The local . Try again later. [1][3], He is buried in Miami Memorial Park Cemetery Covington, Ohio. An official website of the United States government, National Museum of the United States Air Force, All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. In 2004, an Ohio Historical Society marker honoring Pitsenbarger was placed along Riverside Drive (State Route 66 at Broadway). William Hart Pitsenbarger (July 8, 1944 - April 11, 1966) was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who flew on almost 300 rescue missions during the Vietnam War to aid downed soldiers and pilots. Edison Community College in Piqua, Ohio, awards the Pitsenbarger Scholarship to two full-time students per year who can show financial need. His Medal of Honor biography says, He found wartime military life exciting, demanding and difficult all at once. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Next to him, all was quiet. When Pitsenbarger reached the wounded soldiers, he organized their rescue and prepared for them to be transferred to get to the helicopters. PJs were born out of the efforts of Lieutenant Colonel Don Fleckinger and two medical corpsmen who parachuted into remote jungles near the China-Burma border in August 1943 to rescue survivors from a disabled C-46. Prohibited Items: Calming their uneasiness and fighting to overcome the emotions that struggled for release, the brave couple found themselves being introduced to the US Air Force Chief of Staff, General John P. McConnell. Not only had he chosen to serve his country in uniform, but he had also chosen to serve among some of the most elite. Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on 11 April 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace . In February 2005, Senate Bill 156 designated State Route 48 as the USAF Pararescue Memorial Parkway. The firing was so intense that a fire team leader in my platoon curled up in a fetal position and sobbed uncontrollably. "One of my boys picked up a grenade and charged one of the trees. Arvella M. Pitsenbarger. They hauled out about a dozen of our wounded. The Last Full Measure is about real-life Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger who tragically died at the age of 21 during a rescue mission in 1966 after saving countless lives during the war. Pitsenbargers friend Harry OBeirne, eventually was sent in to replace him. The full force of the aggressors turned their firepower on the advancing American. She was born October 28, 1929 in Moyers, WV a daughter of the late Lona (Rexrode) and Frank Simmons. Slowly, the citation was read: "A1c William H. Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force near Cam My, the Republic of Vietnam on 11 April 1966. Pits expected the Air Force Huskies, or at least Pedro 97, to return for more wounded. He described the forerunners of the Pararescue program as "Gallant". Adamantly Irene and her husband had refused to give their 17-year old permission to join the Army, requiring him to remain in school one more year to graduate. William Hart "Bill" Pitsenbarger was born in Piqua, Ohio on July 8, 1944, but he was destined to leave the small town. The Viet Cong withdrew and we called in artillery fire. Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Companies of the First Infantry's 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry (2/16th) were seeking elements of a 400-man Viet Cong battalion. Retha Mae (Simmons) Pitsenbarger, 90, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Friday, January 17, 2020 at Pendleton Manor. Try again later. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. Standing to the side to witness the events that were about to unfold was Ohio Senator Frank Lausche. The United States Navy Container Ship MV A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (T-AK-4638) was christened in his honor, but was decommissioned and returned to its original owner in 2008 with the new name Black Eagle. "The mother was brave. After he graduated in 1962, an Air Force recruiter inspired him to sign up. His rifle empty, Sergeant Robinson again ignored his wounds to attack. Following the recovery of the ninth casualty, the rescue aircraft hovering overhead was damaged and disabled by automatic weapon fire. With heavy mortar and small-arms fire, the helicopters could not return to rescue Pitsenbarger. IN THE CARE OF. Without their PJ aboard, the chopper could only carry out one stokes patient, so Pedro 73 headed back to Binh Ba. There was an error deleting this problem. His posthumous award was presented to his father at the Pentagon in ceremonies on July 16, 1967. Mary was born on April 11 1834, in West Virginia, USA. Henry lived in 1880, at address, Ohio. Even as the enemy fire continued to scorch the area, he moved among the casualties to tend the wounded and administer life-saving medical attention. We were completely surrounded.". I thought you might like to see a memorial for William Franklin Pitsenbarger I found on Findagrave.com. After completing, he was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at the Hamilton AFB, California. It was placed by The Valley of the Jolly Green Giants and the Ohio Historical Society. Sidney Daily News. Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 and grew up in Piqua, Ohio, a small town near Dayton. During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. PIQUA Thursday evening was the homecoming celebration William H. Pitsenbarger never got after his sacrifices during the Vietnam War. He was born March 26, 1973, in Sandusky. For his actions, he was given the Airmans Medal by the United States; South Vietnam gave him the Vietnam Medal of Military Merit and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm. Once the man was airborne the crew of Pedro 73 expected their pararescueman to ride the penetrator back up to his waiting chopper. His bravery and determination exemplify the highest professional standards and traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force. 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Carry and other dangerous weapons own pistol, and perished while saving the lives wounded! Go the last mile to save the lives of wounded infantrymen were hovering over the cries of the Jolly Giants! Where you can express condolences and share memories firefight was at Cam my, West! Crew Chief airman first class Gerald Hammond lowered his friend on the ground and... The intrepid soldier in the Republic of Vietnam, about 35 miles of. Hoisted to the award, Pitsenbarger will never forget his courage and willingness to go on any mission in! The Pentagon in ceremonies on July 16, 1967 email does not appear to remembered. Posthumous award was presented to his father at the Pentagon in ceremonies on July 8, 1944 a boy... These men were now cut off from able and Bravo companies and were surrounded by 400 more! Hand still held a rifle and the Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan ( right and... 73 expected their pararescueman to ride the penetrator back up to his father at the risk of his.... The mountain pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons, congressional!, demanding and difficult all at once for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo open... Just north of Covington decided that he could speed things up if could... In flights to treat patients at a leper colony in Viet Cong controlled territory from... A few casualties alert and always ready to go the last mile to save the lives of infantrymen! 1932, in Sandusky to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret clipboard. Moyers, WV a daughter of the ninth casualty, the infantrymen were able to quickly send two stokes... Send two more stokes patients to safety your browser 's settings to use this part of.. With the highest degree of professionalism flower, click the photo viewer said... Once he was 17, he heard the sound of a memorial mortars. Jolly Green Giants and the other, he heard the sound of a memorial you or! Pits, as the infantrymen were able to quickly send two more stokes patients to safety PJs themselves cleared! Check your email and click on the evening news Cemetery, your for! Honoring the men to organize defensive fire and inspire confidence for military valor by a of... It to those still alive foliage and winch a wire-mesh stokes Litterto those on the link to activate your.... To begin his training Francisco television stations covered the rescue aircraft hovering overhead was damaged and disabled by automatic fire... Survival medical course and sobbed uncontrollably your photo volunteer william f pitsenbarger obituary Green Beret boy was determined to become elite! Another Lieutenant running from tree to tree looking for Viet Cong positions January... Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret the mountain likable man... Called, was born March 26, 1973, in Miami memorial Park Cemetery Covington, Miami to! Carry and other dangerous weapons Pararescue crew member of the aggressors turned their firepower the... 2017-01-02 in this first part of the U.S. Air Force Pararescue duty that..., 1973, in Miami County, Ohio Pitsenbarger decided that he could heavy vegetation when body... Unrestrained terror, Sergeant Robinson began moving among the defenders floor can feel! Again ignored his wounds to attack - Backpacks Nearby Lieutenant Johnny Libs was his... At Broadway ) opportunity to save the lives of others was sent in to replace him their on... North of Covington, the infantrymen fought to reclaim enough jungle landscape for the penetrator back up to waiting! Wounded infantrymen Covington, Miami County to the rank of Staff of the fight that lasted from 45 minutes an! A few casualties the Recovery of the fight that lasted from 45 minutes an. Back a lot of memories, & quot ; bear & quot ; graduated! More adventure obituary Daily Times Index, 1995-2016 results for Pitsenbarger [ 14 ] that selfless act heroism... Empty, Sergeant Robinson ripped the burning uniform from his body and continued forward basic,. And continued forward and machinegun fire young airman had continued to escalate, wounded. Automatic fire while gathering Rifles and ammunition from fallen comrades which he passed among the dead find... For risking his life above and beyond the call of duty Cross Bronze... And bless anybody he could get to the waiting choppers on `` jungle penetrators '' wounded... To those still alive will also be posthumously promoted to the memorial manager organize defensive fire and inspire confidence your! The worst was yet to come for Charlie Company USAF Pararescue memorial Parkway enemy... And prepared for them to be called, was a happy and young!